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Provocate’s Picks — where the cool kids will be May 14-20 |

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Where the cool green kids will be — Energy & environment events May 15-18 (and beyond) |

There are a surfeit of opportunities to talk about energy and the environment in the coming week. Tuesday May 15 is supposed to feature one of Sen. Richard Lugar’s aides to explain his boss’s commitment to energy sustainability and security. Peter Schubert will explain how his Lugar Center for Renewable Energy will continue the good fight. The Lugar Center has a symposium on recovering energy from waste on Friday May 18. All this and the country’s most important green building conference meets in Indy this week.

Where the cool kids will learn about learning — Upcoming conversations about education |

In today’s dysfunctional political and policymaking environment, bold and effective reform of schooling and educating is unlikely. That does not mean we have to endure passively the obstacles that get in the way of kids being allowed to develop their potential fully. Many of the discussions are not just of what is going wrong in schools. They are about how all of us can make a difference, independently of what policy-makers in DC or Indiana choose not to do.

Talkback to Oedipus and his twitchy family May 19th |

One of the rare experiences for theatre-goers this spring is being able to see all three of Sophocles’ Theban Plays as NoExit performs Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. If this is coming as …

take a look at these upcoming indytalks events |

In a citywide effort designed to foster a sense of community through respectful and creative civic dialogue, some of the city and state’s most active organizations will examine Indiana’s future from their own unique perspective in provocative and fresh ways through the IndyTalks initiative.

Talkback after May 18 and June 2 performances of “San Merci” |

Join the cast and crew of Sans Merci, PFLAG, provocate.org, IYG, and Amnesty International while they engage in a community conversation about the gay rights, activism, and international affairs on June 2nd immediately following the show.

“Conversations About Education” Series at Central Library |

Continuing through August, The Indianapolis Public Library will present a free series of public forums exploring the educational issues facing the Indianapolis community. Parents, educators and community leaders are invited to the “Conversations About Education …

This summer Dreamapolis and the Library offer a series of workshops on “How to Be a Social Entrepreneur — Starting Your Urban Business” |

Throughout the summer, the Indianapolis Public Library and Dreamapolis will present a series of workshops designed to help individuals learn about technology and social media necessary to start their own urban business.

May is a big month for Haitian Hoosiers |

May is a great month for Haitians in Indianapolis. A new Haitian community center has its grand opening May 12 and 13. Then we can all celebrate Haitian Flag May 20th.

Preview of Indy Star article about Haiti events in Indy |

It may be edited, it may be bumped … many things can take place in the newspaper world. But there’s a good chance a version of this article about important Haiti happenings in Indy will be in the Local Living section of the Star on Thursday May 3

Indy Star’s “Live Local, Think Global” for May |

The Star has published Provocate and Global Indy’s May iteration of “Live Local, Think Global.” Good stuff coming up in May, we could pick only a few of the events that deserve our attention. 

Indy Star on “Jan nou Wè l” |

It’s official, the Indy Star says Provocate—Haiti’s upcoming art show at the Athenaeum is one of Indy’s top 5 events of May

What’s happening @ Global Indy? |

If you haven’t visited Provocate’s sister site Global Indy at www.globalindy.org, you should. Go ahead, we’ll wait for you to come back. What do you think? It’s full of great content abut events in the community, …

Provocator Dan Mundell in NUVO on “Reconnecting to Our Waterways” |

Reconnecting to Our Waterways is a very ambitious and innovative program to enrich the livability of Indianapolis and the well being of residents by generating new and sustainable opportunities to learn about and experience art, nature, and beauty along targeted natural waterways and the neighborhoods around them.

Preview of May’s “Live Local, Think Global” |

What’s up in May? Some of the greatest works of art in human history will be featured. Art and cultural performances from the venerable civilizations of China and the Islamic world. A rare performance of the three “Theban plays” by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. Art birthed of pain and resilience from Haiti. Oh yeah, and inspiration to set up a chicken coop on your patio. Expect to see these in the Indianapolis Star Thursday April 26th.

provocate’s conference of the week — Agent Orange and lasting legacy of the Vietnam War on the 20th |

40+ years after our government used the powerful defoliant Agent Orange in the Vietnam War, the aftereffects are with us today, both in disabled ex-service members in the US and in generations of Vietnamese crippled by birth defects. We can solve the problem … not just “we” the US government. “We” the people of Indiana can be an essential part of the solution.

provocate’s art event of the week — Power + politics + style on display with “art of the presidents” on the 19th |

The United States lacks royalty or a High Priest of a state church … but in many ways those functions are thrust upon the president. So much power vested in one person; yet because of the need to campaign for office it’s also a person all of us feel we know intimately. Presidents know this, even if they don’t talk about it very much. They use art intentionally to convey messages or to manipulate sentiment. And sometime the art shapes the presidency as well.

provocate’s literary event of the week — Legends join the Etheridge Knight festival on the 19th |

This year the Etheridge Knight Festival of the Arts is more than just a chance to hear readings from some of greats of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s (although it is that). You can meet some of the most creative high school kids in the city who’ve been inspired by Knight … by recognizing these students we can honor Etheridge Knight in a way he would have approved.

the premiere of History of Cardenio is provocate’s theatre pick of the week — maybe the event of the year |

The History of Cardenio is a big deal for Indy, for IUPUI and for the history of theatre. Shakespearean scholar Gary Taylor has reconstructed and re-imagined one of Shakespeare’s “lost” (“disappeared”?) plays. Under the direction of dynamic IUPUI professor Terri Bourus, The History of Cardenio is being performed in North America for the first time. There’s more, much more.

provocate’s pick of the week — Voices from Burma on the 18th |

These refugees are here because they have suffered terrible abuses of their rights and dignity, so it’s easy to think of them as having problems that we Hoosiers are generously helping solve. But the reality is more complicated, and more hopeful. These newcomers are assets, bringing knowledge and experiences our city lacks. More than any other event about refugees, Voices from Burma will make this clear.

Evolver’s raw food potluck = food event of the week April 22nd |

Some might complain that Evolver’s raw food potlucks and workshops are wiping out the competition in provocate’s food pick of the week category. Our response: come up with food events that combine interaction and creativity, life philosophy and tastiness … see if you can beat Evolver. Come on, look at their name, think “survival of the fittest” … compete!